Page 46 of The Unknown Colton
Only she did.
Once they were back in her cabin, she found herself lingering in the living room with him instead of going into her bedroom and locking the door. As frustrated as she was with his stubborn determination to return to work on the oil rigs, she was also frustrated from denying herself the passion that always burned between them.
If he left again, she didn’t want to regret not being with him. Even if it might be their last time.
“Thank you for helping me board up that window again,” she said.
He nodded. “I’m sorry that’s all I can do to help you at the hotel.”
“That’s not all you can do,” she said. “It’s all you’re willing to do.”
“Lakin, it’s not that I’m not willing,” he said. “I just don’t know what the future holds for me, not after the accident.”
“Nobody knows what the future holds, Troy,” she pointed out. “We just have to have faith that everything will work out for the best.”
“But it doesn’t all work out for the best,” he said. “My dad died. Your aunt and grandparents were murdered. Bad things happen all the time, and we don’t know when or where or how they’re going to happen.”
She shivered at the reminder. “You’re right.” And because of that, she was even more determined to take what was right in front of her, whilehewas still here. She’d already nearly lost him when he fell off that rig and then the side of the mountain. She didn’t want to lose him because of an accident. Or something that maybe wasn’t an accident.
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
“Me, too,” she said. She reached out then, sliding her arms around his broad shoulders. “I’m sorry I’ve been locking you out.”
“I understand why you’re mad at me,” he said.
“I don’t even think I’m mad anymore…” She wasn’t sure what she was now. Maybe resigned. The next time he left, he wouldn’t be coming back to her even if he returned to Shelby in one piece. She wasn’t going to wait around for him any longer.
“You’ve forgiven me?” he asked, his green eyes brightening.
She didn’t want to dash his hopes like he’d dashed hers. Instead of replying, she kissed him, sliding her lips seductively back and forth across his mouth.
He clasped a hand in her hair, holding her head to his, and kissed her back. Deeply. Passionately.
Her pulse raced as heat flushed her entire body. She wanted him so damn badly. Despite all the years they’d been together the passion between them had never cooled. It burned as hot as ever, maybe even hotter now than before. Because of the danger, because of knowing how close she’d come to losing him, Lakin wanted him more than she ever had.
As she pressed her mouth hungrily to his, she tugged him back toward her bedroom. This time she wasn’t locking him out; she might just lock him inside with her, to keep the rest of the world out.
He lifted his mouth from hers, panting for breath, and asked, “Are you sure, Lakin?”
She nodded. She was sure that she wanted to make love with him, but that was all she was sure of at the moment. She wasn’t sure that they had a future. But she didn’t want him going back to the oil rigs without being with him again, even if it was the last time.
Once in the bedroom, he kicked the door shut. And then he dragged off his clothes. He was so muscular. His biceps bulged, his ab muscles rippled, and his chest thumped, his heart beating as fast as hers.
Needing to press her skin against his, she undressedquickly, too, until she was as naked as he was. His erection pulsated, as if begging for her attention.
But before she could reach for him, he was swinging her up in his arms.
“Troy!” she exclaimed, worried that he was going to hurt himself.
He grimaced as he carried her the short couple of steps to the bed. When he laid her on it, he followed her down. She wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted to be close to her or if it was because he was hurt.
“You shouldn’t be overdoing it,” she said. “Are you all right?”
“Frustrated,” he said. “It’s been killing me to lie out there on the couch, aching for you.”
She didn’t want him achingbecauseof her, though. She wasn’t petite. She was five nine with an athletic build. But Troy had always picked her up like she was light. Until today.
“Are you really all right?” she persisted.
